The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is announcing the inaugural meeting of the newly formed safety-oriented “Vision Zero Council” on August 19, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Vision Zero Council was established this year by the Connecticut General Assembly as part of Public Act 21-28, a landmark transportation safety bill championed by Transportation Committee Chairs Representative Roland Lemar and Senator Will Haskell. The primary mission of the council will be to develop a state-wide policy and interagency approach to eliminate transportation-related fatalities and severe injuries involving pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and passengers.
“CTDOT is committed to eliminating deaths on our roadways and having our sister agencies at the table will help make this possible,” said Garrett Eucalitto, CTDOT Deputy Commissioner and Vision Zero Council Chair. “By bringing diverse perspectives together on the Vision Zero Council and engaging with and listening to the concerns of the public and safety stakeholders, we can better shape our approach to making Connecticut’s transportation system safer for all users.”
The Vision Zero Council, comprised of the commissioners (or their designees) of the Departments of Transportation, Public Health, Emergency Services and Public Protection, Motor Vehicles, Education, and Aging and Disability Services may also include additional commissioners (or their designees) as additional resources to address transportation safety.
Statistics show a trend of increasing road-user fatalities, particularly for those most vulnerable - pedestrians. The CTDOT recently announced a Toward Zero Deaths Campaign to promote an enhanced culture of safety, as well as a Comprehensive Pedestrian Safety Strategy to increase awareness and target the root causes of pedestrian injuries and fatalities in the state.
The inaugural meeting of the Vision Zero Council will take place virtually. For details on how to register, watch, and participate in the meeting, please click here.